Internal combustion engine



Aug. 4, 1931. w. R. GRISWOLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 20,1928 'in A WALTER FLER ISWDLD Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTGFFICE HALTER R. GRISWOLD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARDMOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGANINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed April 20,

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularlyto the cooling means therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple ande'llicient system for cooling an internal combustion engine by thealternate formation and condensation of steam or vapor from a suitablecooling fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a steam coolingsystem which shall dissipate heat in a radiator not subjected to varyingpressures or depressions, but operable at a substantially constant prre, preferably atmospheric pressure.

Another object of the invention to pro vide a cooling system forinternal combustion engines in which an intermittent flow of coolingfluid is secured by the periodic condensation of accumulated steam ofvapor, the condensing means being operated by the flow of periodiccondensation of steam or vapor formed from said fluid. In systems ofthis nature previously proposed, the water is cooled in a radiator orcooling tank connected in the circulatory system and subjected to thevarying pressures thereof. The radiator must therefore be constructed toprevent the escape of steam under pressure, and also sufficiently tightto prevent the entrance of air during periods when the system is undera. vacuum. In the present invention is provided a system wherein theradiator is not exposed to variable pressure but is operated at asubstantially constant pressure, preferably atmospheric pressure.

Referring to the drawing, 10 represents 1923. Serial No. 271,563.

a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine having a water jacket11 formed about the cylinders 12 in the usual manner. At 18 isillustrated a radiator of the usua type comprising upper and lowerheaders or tanl-rs i l and 16, connected by tubes or other cooling units17. It is provided with an opening in the upper header 14, closed by avsuitable cap 18. through which water may be supplied. to the system. Theradiator also has an overflow or vent pipe 19, through which it ventedto the atmosphere and maintained substantially at atmosphere pressure.

Connected to or formed in the upper part of the water j ackct 11 is achamber 21 which may be termed a. steam chamber, in which steam or vaporformed in the jackets 11 collected. This chamber is connected at itsupper end to a steam discharge pipe 22, which leads to a condensingdevice shown at 23. This device comprises a condensing chamber 24preferably formed as a venturi, in the throat of which is a dischargenozzle 26 to which the steam pipe 22 is connected. The device also has apipe 27 to supply cooling water to the condensing chamber, and adischarge pipe 28 adapted to remove the con densate, or mixture ofcooling water and condensed steam.

The cooling water pipe 27 is connected, through an inverted trap orsiphon 29, to the lower radiator tank 16, the siphon 29 being above thenormal water level of the system. The lower part of the jacket- 11 isconnected to the lower part of the radiator, preferably at the tank 16,by a pipe or connection 31, in which a one-way valve 32 is placed.

The operation of the system as follows: lVith the system filled with.vater up to its normal water level, and the engine started, the heat ofthe cylinders 12 will be radiated to and absorbed by the water in thejackets 11 in the usual way. As the engine warms up this heat issuiiicient to cause the formation of steam in the jackets 11 which risestherein and collects in the chamber 21. As the heat of the engineincreases more steam is formed so that a considerable pressure is builtup in the chamber 21 and in the pipe 22.

- This pressure forces the water out of the cond-ensing chamber 24 andthe pipe 28 into the radiator 13. lVhen sutlicient pressure has builtup, a flow of steam takes place through the pipe 22 and nozzle 26, intothe condenser chamber 24, which thus acts as a jet pump todrawcoolingwater from the tank 16 over the siphon 29 and through thepipe 27 into the chamber 24. This coolingwater condenses the steamissuing from the nozzle 26, the device acting as an ordinary jetcondenser, and the condensate, or mixture of condensed steam and coolingWater will pass through the pipe 28 into the radiator. I

In the radiator the heated water entering from the pipe 28 will rise inthetubes 17 and be cooled therein, the cooledwater returning to the tank16 for use in the engine j ackets.

The condensation of steam from the pipe 22 and chamber 21 produces aperiodic vacuum or depression in the chamber 21, which draws coolingwater from the radiator through the pipe 31 and valve 32 into thejackets 11, thus cooling the cylinders 12.

During the formation of steam in the chamber 21 and the building up ofsteam pressure therein, the valve 32 is held in its closed position bythe pressure in the cylinder jackets,

thus preventing a return flow of steam or heated water into the radiator16. 7

It will be evident that thisinvention provides a cooling system in whichthere is a periodic flow of cooling water through the jackets, thiswater being converted into steam and condensed for recooling at asubsequent period in'the cycle of the device.v It will also be evidentthat the circulation of cooling water through this cycle is maintainedby the alternate pressure and vacuum caused by is claim'ed and desiredto be secured the formation and subsequent condensation of steam. Thevarying pressure in the system is not communicated to the radiator butis confined to the ackets 11, chamber 21, pipe 22 and the condenser 23.In this way the radiator may be of usual construction and operated atatmospheric pressure, no particular care being required to maintain itairt g t ters Patent is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a coolingsystem including ackets and a condenser subjected to alternate pressureand vacuum, and a radiator operable at substantially atmosphericpressure to receive condensate from the condenser and to supply coolingwater to the jackets and to the condenser.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a coolingsystem including jackets and a radiator operable under substantiallyconstant pressure, a condensing device operable under periodic pressureand Vacuum, and means connecting the radiator to both the condensingdevice and to said jackets. I

3. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combinationof jackets having means to collect steam formed therein, a nozzleconnected to said means to discharge steam therefrom, a condenser toreceive steam from said nozzle, a radiator con nected to the atmosphereand adapted to supply cooled water to the jackets, means operable by thesuction of said nozzle and including a siphon to supply cooling waterfrom the radiator to said condenser, and means to conduct the condensatefrom the condenser to said radiator.

4. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines having coolingjackets, the combination of a condensing device for steam formed in saidjackets, a radiator havin an atmospheric connection and adapted to coolthe discharge from the condenser and to supply cooling water thereto,and means to supply cooled water from the radiator to said jackets. I V

In a cooling system for internal combustion engines havingcoolingjackets, the combination of a condensing device having a steam dischargenozzle connected, to the jackets, a radiator adapted to receive and coolthe condensate from said device, means to supply cooled water from theradiator to the jackets, and suction operated means to supply coolingwater from the radiator t0 thecondensing device. a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER a. earsWoLn.

by Let-

